A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who suddenly develops large bruises, bleeding from the gums, and severe back pain. Which life-threatening complication should the nurse immediately suspect and prioritize for intervention?

A. Sepsis with disseminated bleeding: While sepsis can cause bleeding, the specific triad of spontaneous bruising, mucosal bleeding, and severe pain in a leukemia patient is most classic for DIC. B. Hemolytic anemia crisis: Hemolytic anemia involves the destruction of RBCs (causing jaundice and fatigue) but does not typically cause the systemic clotting factor depletion seen with gum bleeding and bruising. C. Tumor lysis syndrome: TLS usually causes renal failure and electrolyte imbalances (hyperkalemia) following the start of chemotherapy, not spontaneous systemic bleeding. D. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): DIC is a grave complication of leukemia where the clotting cascade is overstimulated, exhausting clotting factors and platelets, leading to simultaneous systemic clotting and massive bleeding.